Entertainment Career Becomes a Passion for Dunes Family:

Ensuring that 48 home performances run smoothly on a well manicured stage is all in a day's work when you are responsible for one of the longest running entertainment spectacles in the Siouxland area.

Our warm spring weather is allowing for all the final touches.

The stadium walls will be painted with new murals, repairs are underway on the outfield panels that failed to survive our Midwest winter, and the field needs to be aerated and fertilized.

It's all on Tritz's 'to do' list as he prepares for the May 10^th home game opener of the Sioux City Explorers 16^th season.

Tritz, a Dakota Dunes resident, is the General Manager of the Siouxland baseball team.

"I have so many people come up to me throughout the off season that ask "What do you do now that the Explorers aren't playing?". As soon as we throw out the last pitch of one year, we're preparing for the first pitch of the next season," a busy Tritz explained.

Sending out last minute emails, answering phones and tying up loose ends in an office filled with baseball themed family portraits and Explorer's memorabilia is a true testament to that fact that baseball and family governs this Dunes man's life.

Tritz even met his wife, Holly, during an outing at a local ballpark.

"We actually met playing softball at the old Floyd Softball Complex," Tritz explained. Holly's best friend's husband and Shane played ball together. While Holly was in Sioux City visiting family, she decided to attend the ball game with a group of friends, and the rest is history.

Now Tritz is busily helping their two young daughters develop their own love of athletics.

At only 6 years old, daughter Morgan is already swimming, playing soccer, basketball and, of course, t-ball.

The Tritz's youngest daughter, Peyton, 2, is also getting into the swing of things.

"The littlest one is throwing things right now, it's not always a baseball, let's put it that way," Tritz explained. Well, she is only two, so there's still time.

The families love of baseball can be seen nearly every night of the summer season. Holly and the girls try to attend most of the 48 home games at Lewis and Clark Park in Sioux City.

"Our summers as a family is pretty much spent here," Tritz explained.

Holly has been very supportive of Shane's many career moves to finally attain the position as General Manager of the Sioux City Explorers.

"I think she knew what she was getting into. She has been with me from the git-go through my whole baseball career. I can honestly say that I wouldn't have been able to do it over the last several years without her support," Tritz commented.

The love of a ball game started early on for the Tritz family. Shane, a West High graduate, played baseball all four years of high school. His wife Holly, a Heelan graduate, played softball all four year of high school as well.

Holly currently works in Dakota Dunes at First Financial Bank USA in the IT Department. When she isn't working, you can find her spending time at the ballpark or outside enjoying a run.

Tritz, a 1999 University of Iowa graduate in Sports Management, has allowed his love of the American past-time to take him from Sioux City to Omaha and Texas for various job opportunities.

Days after he donned a cap and gown at the University of Iowa, Tritz began an internship with the Sioux City Explorers in his hometown.

In 2000, the lure of a full-time position with the Omaha Royals, Kansas City's AAA affiliate, allowed Tritz to relocate to Omaha.

In 2001 a full-time position opened up with the Sioux City Explorers, and Tritz made the trek home to spend the '01 and '02 seasons with his hometown team.

At the end of 2002, Tritz ventured to the south to start up a new franchise in Corpus Christi, Texas.

"It was a wide open field when we moved down there in November 2002. We threw out the first pitch on May 15, 2003." And, so started the first season for The Coastal Bend Aviators. Tritz spent the 2003, 2004 and 2005 baseball seasons with the Texas team, building them from the ground up.

During the Tritz's time in Texas, daughter Peyton was born, and the family had a yearning for their hometown and Siouxland family.

In 2006 the Tritz family moved back to the Midwest.

"The opportunity came to return to Sioux City for a third tour of duty with the Explorers in January of '06, and now I have been here '06, '07 and '08, and '08 will be my tenth season in this crazy industry," Tritz noted.

With their young family growing, Tritz's relatives couldn't have been more happy about the family's relocation.

"It was the right move to come back to the Explorers as the General Manager and bring me and my family back home to our family."

On opening night in Sioux City, May 10, 2008, Shane will witness the first home pitch of his 6^th season with the Explorers and his 10^th season in baseball.

"The best thing about my position is knowing that myself and my staff, throughout the winter months, is preparing an entertainment experience, 48 of those, for patrons in my home town. I get to see the smiles on peoples faces, enjoying what me and my staff put together," Tritz explained.

And Tritz loves his job with the close-knit baseball community.

"Everybody is in it for the same reasons. A. They love the game of baseball. B. It's their hometown and they want to provide that same entertainment atmosphere."

Tritz is responsible for providing affordable family entertainment for the Siouxland community. And don't tell him it's just a baseball game.

"Regardless whether you like baseball or not, a good time can be had, whether it's socializing with friends, getting something to eat or grab a drink, " Tritz explained.

And if you're a kid, there's even more.

You can dance with Slider, the teams mascot that roams the stadium. You can jump in the moonwalk or try out your arm in the speed pitcher. And, don't forget about the fun games and promotions that take the field between innings. You'll also want to stay until the last inning so you can run the bases just like the players!

And this season, there's an extra special treat on Sunday evenings.

"This year we will have autographs with the players after every Sunday home game," Tritz explained.

And during game time, you won't find this GM cooped up in his office.

Once the first pitch has been thrown, and the fans start to cheer, you can find Tritz roaming the stadium, keeping a close eye on this well oiled machine. He likes to meet the fans, make sure the patrons are having a great time, and simply be available.

"I have put many miles on my shoes throughout the summer. I can guarantee you that. Sometimes too many. I think I put more miles on my shoes in the summer than I do my vehicle," Tritz explained of his jaunts through the stadium.

But, it's not all work and no play for Tritz.

"My passion outside of baseball, whenever I do have a day off, is definitely fishing," Tritz said.

But, for now, the fishing pole must wait.

His second family of 22 players, 3 coaches and a team of summer employees and game-day help need him at the stadium. There's a field to fertilize, a team to condition and a show to prepare. Let the entertainment begin! It's almost baseball season!

***This article was originally published in the North Sioux City / Dakota Dunes Times by Sedgwick Publishing.***